02/26/2026
β€οΈ February is National Heart Health Month β€οΈ
Phillips County EMS & Phillips County Health Systems are proud to bring you Part 2 of our 3-Part Heart Attack Awareness Series.
π¨ When it comes to a heart attack β every minute matters.
At Phillips County Health Systems, our goal is clear and urgent:
π Restore blood flow to the heart as quickly as possible to prevent permanent damage and possible death.
π₯ What Happens When Patients Arrive With Chest Pain?
The Phillips County Hospital ER Team:
β Rapidly identify a heart attack
β Initiate life-saving medications to prevent more clots from forming or enlarging
β Stabilize patients
β Coordinate immediate transfer to a higher level of care
π Early EMS Activation Saves Time β And Heart Muscle
Strong communication between EMS and our Emergency Department is vital to providing rapid, coordinated care during a heart attack.
π Early pre-notification from EMS allows us to mobilize immediately.
When EMS alerts us that they are bringing in a possible STEMI:
β’ We activate a STEMI Alert before the patient arrives
β’ The on-call provider, Lab and Radiology personnel are notified
β’ Additional nursing staff are notified if needed
This ensures our Emergency Department team is fully prepared and ready at the bedside the moment the patient arrives.
β Planning Ahead for Transfer
Early notification from EMS also gives us valuable time to coordinate transport.
If appropriate, we can begin arranging air transport before the patient even reaches our doors β helping reduce delays in getting patients to a PCI-capable hospital.
π When Transfer Delays Happen
In rural areas, weather, distance, or transport availability can sometimes delay transfer.
If getting to a PCI center quickly is not possible, we can give a clot-dissolving medication to break apart the clot and restore blood flow to the heart.
Even if clot-dissolving medication is given, patients still require transfer to a PCI-capable hospital for continued care.
β€οΈ Our role is to act immediately β identify the heart attack, start treatment, and ensure patients reach the right level of care as quickly and safely as possible.
Stay tuned for Part 3 of our Heart Health Series!